By Aaron Bracamontes
El Paso Times
CHAPARRAL, N.M. — Mike Marquez takes pride in his little town of Chaparral.
So much pride that he can regularly be seen on the side of the community’s busiest road cleaning up any hazards.
“Here at Chap arral, we’re way out in the boondocks so we don’t get much help,” Marquez said. “We all just help out each other where we can.”
Several years ago, Marquez was almost struck by another vehicle at the intersection of McCombs and Paloma Blanca. The other car began sliding on dirt and pebbles while the driver was trying to make a turn.
“People cut through (the dirt) and it is dangerous when it happens,” Marquez said. “Now I’ll drive by and see when it’s dangerous, and I will (clear) it.”
Marquez usually keeps a broom with strong bristles in the back of his truck, along with traffic cones and a reflective vest. “I don’t get out there without my vest,” he said. “It’s my attention getter.”
He clears out any large rocks, sweeps dirt off the road and fills any large potholes.
His goal is to prevent the possibility of anyone getting into an accident.
“That is how accidents happen,” Marquez said. “I’m an ex cop -- I know. I’ve investigated enough accidents to see it.”
An ex-officer from New Mexico and California, Marquez has become a vital member of Chaparral ever since he moved there seven years ago.
At the time, he was awaiting a liver transplant, which went well.
“I came out all right,” he said. “Thank God I came out with good health.”
Now Marquez is known around the community for helping out his neighbors.
He is a member of the Chaparral Community Development Association, Veterans Affairs, the Senior Food and Meal Providers and other groups.
His work with the development association is dedicated to improving Chaparral.
“I don’t take credit for what I do,” he said. “It’s not an ‘I,’ it’s a ‘we.’ ”
Marquez said he is not trying to take anything away from Dona A?a County or Otero County, which share Chaparral. In fact, he is trying to help the government.
“The county is limited with resources,” Marquez said. “They have sweepers, but they can’t be here every day. So we have to help out.”
As a member of the development association, Marquez hopes that his actions and those of other volunteers rub off on others.
He and other community development members pitch in where they can. Recently, they also put up netting to prevent pigeons from leaving droppings on the entrance of the multipurpose community center.
If Chaparral is going to become a more efficient town, he said, then others will have to pitch in to help.
“This is what we are trying to do -- help the community in any way,” Marquez said.
Mike Marquez sweeps the intersection of McCombs and Paloma Blanca Dr in Chaparral because the loose gravel poses a road hazard and can cause cars to slide.
Copyright 2011 El Paso Times, a MediaNews Group Newspaper